§ 31-25-28. Liability for damages from oversize or overweight.
(a) Any person driving any vehicle, object, or contrivance upon any highway or highway structure shall be liable for all damage which the highway or structure may sustain as a result of any illegal operation, driving, or moving of the vehicle, object, or contrivance, or as a result of operating, driving, or moving any vehicle, object, or contrivance weighing in excess of the maximum weight, or over the maximum dimensions in this chapter but authorized by a special permit issued as provided in this chapter.
(b) Whenever the driver is not the owner of a vehicle, object, or contrivance, but is so operating, driving, or moving it with the express or implied permission of the owner, then the owner and driver shall be jointly and severally liable for the damage.
(c) Damage may be recovered in a civil action brought by the authorities in control of the highway or highway structure.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 35, § 13; G.L. 1956, § 31-25-28; P.L. 2022, ch. 178, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 179, § 1, effective June 27, 2022.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-25 - Size, Weight, and Load Limits
Section 31-25-1. - Compliance with chapter required.
Section 31-25-2. - Vehicles exempt from limitations.
Section 31-25-3. - Maximum width.
Section 31-25-4. - Maximum height.
Section 31-25-5. - Maximum length of single vehicle and load.
Section 31-25-6. - Maximum number and length of coupled vehicles.
Section 31-25-7. - Front and rear extensions of load.
Section 31-25-8. - Pole trailers.
Section 31-25-9. - Prevention of leakage of load.
Section 31-25-10. - Fastening of load and covering.
Section 31-25-11. - Connections between coupled vehicles.
Section 31-25-12. - Flags on tow chains.
Section 31-25-12.1. - Vehicles to be towed in right lane.
Section 31-25-13. - Axle load limit.
Section 31-25-14. - Maximum weight and tandem axles.
Section 31-25-15. - Investigations as to safety of buses, trucks, and trailers.
Section 31-25-16. - Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.
Section 31-25-17. - Identification of trucks and truck-tractors.
Section 31-25-18. - Weighing of suspected overweight vehicles.
Section 31-25-19. - Removal of excess from overweight vehicles.
Section 31-25-20. - Refusal to submit to weighing or removal of excess load.
Section 31-25-21. - Power to permit excess size or weight of loads.
Section 31-25-22. - Application for excess load permit.
Section 31-25-23. - Conditions and restrictions on excess load permits.
Section 31-25-24. - Carrying and inspection of permits.
Section 31-25-25. - Seasonal weight restrictions by local authorities.
Section 31-25-26. - Prohibition of commercial vehicles by local authorities.
Section 31-25-27. - Weight restrictions.
Section 31-25-27.1. - Weight restrictions on the Veterans Memorial Parkway — East Providence.
Section 31-25-27.2. - Weight restrictions on Route 114 — Bristol.
Section 31-25-27.3. - Weight restrictions on Route 114 — Johnston.
Section 31-25-27.4. - Weight restrictions on South Main Street — Coventry.
Section 31-25-27.5. - Weight restrictions on state roadways — East Providence.
Section 31-25-27.6. - Weight restrictions on Route 15 — Armistice Boulevard — Pawtucket.
Section 31-25-27.7. - Weight restrictions on route 114 — Warren.
Section 31-25-27.8. - Weight restrictions within North Smithfield town hall area.
Section 31-25-27.9. - Weight restrictions on Smith Avenue in Smithfield.
Section 31-25-27.10. - Weight restrictions on Forest Avenue and Turner Road — Middletown.
Section 31-25-27.11. - Weight restrictions on Limerock Road — Smithfield and Lincoln.
Section 31-25-27.12. - Commercial vehicles prohibited on Chases Lane in Middletown.
Section 31-25-28. - Liability for damages from oversize or overweight.
Section 31-25-29. - Refuse-hauling vehicles — Exemption from permit.